Examples of fraudFollowing are examples of some of the things that people conceal or do not report in order to receive ineligible public assistance benefits:

Someone in the home beginning to work or quitting work

Actual earnings or income of all household members

Self-employment or doing odd jobs without reporting the income

Ownership of property

Money in the bank

Unearned income such as social security, child support, unemployment compensation or veteran’s benefits for any household members

Everyone living in the home

Someone moving in or out of the home

Receiving assistance in one parish while living in another parish or state

Receiving assistance in more than one parish or state

Changes in a child’s attendance at day care

EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) is a method of electronically delivering government benefits. Instead of checks and food stamp coupons, recipients of public assistance have the Louisiana Purchase (LAP) automated benefit card. The Office of Family Support is also responsible for conducting EBT fraud investigations in conjunction with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

The types of violations are:

Retailer trafficking (buying or selling food stamp benefits)

Recipient fraud (buying and selling cards or benefits)

Counterfeit card schemes

Reporting the Misuse of the ebt card

Prohibition of Unauthorized Use or Purchases Made with the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card:

Recipients of Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) and Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) are prohibited from using their FITAP or KCSP benefits in any Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) transaction or use the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at any of the following types of establishments: any liquor store (this does not include grocery stores that sell liquor); any gambling casino or gaming establishment (any place that allows gambling, but does not include a store that sells groceries and is housed in the same building as a casino); any adult bookstores, any adult paraphernalia store, or any sexually oriented business (strip clubs, etc.); any tattoo, piercing, or commercial body art facility; any nail salon; any jewelry store; any amusement ride, amusement attraction, or video arcade (including movie theaters); any bail bonds company; any night club, bar, tavern, or saloon; any cruise ship; any psychic business; or any establishment where persons under age 18 are not permitted.

In addition, FITAP and KCSP recipients are prohibited from using their EBT card for the purchase of an alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, hard liquor), a tobacco product (cigarettes, etc.), a lottery ticket (including scratch-off tickets), or jewelry at any retailer.

Penalty:

Failure to comply with these prohibitions is considered an Intentional Program Violation (IPV) and the penalty is full case closure. The penalty time periods are:

12 months for the first offense,

24 months for the second offense, and

Permanently for the third offense.

Reporting of Misuse of the EBT Card:

The agency will rely on retailers and the public to report the misuse of benefits. Individuals are encouraged to call DCFS' toll-free hotline at 1-888-LAHELP-U (1-888-524-3578) and select option 7 from the main menu or by visiting filling out the online form.

To report a complaint to the Fraud & Recovery Unit, retailers and the public may call the 1-888-LAHELP-U (1-888-524-3578), email the complaint to DCFS.Fraud@LA.GOV, fax the complaint at (225) 219-1663 or mail the complaint to: Fraud and Recovery Unit, P.O. Box 91147, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9147.

Investigating FraudThe Economic Stability parish offce is responsible for providing assistance to needy individuals and is committed to maintaining the integrity of the programs administered under its jurisdiction. Equally important is the agency's role in insuring that the fraudulent receipt of such benefits is detected and that appropriate measures are taken to terminate ineligible cases and to recover ineligible benefits.

The Program Integrity and Improvement Division is charged with the primary responsibility for fraud detection and recovery of ineligible benefits in the programs administered by DCFS. This Section is also responsible for the collection of overpayments to both recipients and providers.